Negative pressure therapy system with immobilizing locking sheets

An injury treatment device, comprising:

• a manifold layer having a patient-facing side and a non-patient-facing side;
• a first airtight chamber positioned along at least a portion of the non-patient-facing side of the airtight chamber;
• locking sheets positioned in the first airtight chamber, the locking sheets configured to transition from a flexible state to an inflexible state;
• and
• a sealable layer coupled to the manifold layer and configured to be sealed to a patient to define a second airtight chamber that contains the manifold layer.

A method of treating an injury to a joint, comprising:

• applying a treatment device around the joint;
• sealing one or more edges of the treatment device to the joint to define a first airtight chamber containing a manifold layer;
• providing negative pressure therapy by pumping air out of the first airtight chamber to communicate a negative pressure to the joint;
• and
• providing immobilization therapy by pumping air out of a second airtight chamber, the second airtight chamber containing locking sheets configured to immobilize the joint in response to the second airtight chamber reaching at least a threshold negative pressure.

An injury treatment system, comprising:

• an airtight pouch;
• a negative pressure source pneumatically communicable with the airtight pouch and operable to establish a negative pressure in the airtight pouch;
• a plurality of sheets positioned in the airtight pouch, wherein each sheet has a thickness in a range between approximately 0.004″ and 0.006″;
• wherein the plurality of sheets are configured to jam together to form an inflexible block when the negative pressure source establishes the negative pressure in the airtight pouch.